Chris WilCYnski

Director of Community and Social Services (2011-2018)

How did you get involved with PHC?

I first got involved when I was in graduate school and came across the position on Idealist - it seemed like such a beautiful program and way to engage in a supportive community. I stepped into the HOH House Manager role, and then helped form the initial community companion program. A few years later, the House Manager role was unexpectedly vacant, and I shared the House Manager position with a former companion for several months as they performed a job search. Once they filled the House Manager position, they opened Director of Social Services position, and I stepped into that role. That was about 7 years ago!

What inspires you to do this work?

The people. And the relationships. And that we are able to be a part of building an amazing supportive housing community. I feel like we are resilient as an organization - at all levels of our involvement.

What would you consider to be the most meaningful part(s) of your PHC experience?

Relationships. Through my time and involvement with PHC, there are many relationships that I’ve been in for almost 10 years - and it’s really amazing to see life happen alongside people. Companions and residents getting married, people entering amazing and meaningful careers, working through relationships with one another, building new and important communities. Me included - I’ve bought and sold houses, had 3 kids, lost grandparents… PHC has been a big, and long, part of my life. It’s been amazing, and fun to be with people.

Do you have a favorite memory or memories from working with PHC?

Things that come to mind are the companion retreats that we used to have up on Whidbey Island, Whirlyball was fun - and it brought out my competitive side that had been dormant for a while. There were many fun shenanigans back when I was the house manager that are fond memories.

If you could create one holiday, what would it be and why?

This one is tough - isn’t there already a holiday for everything already? Would need to be something that involves many of my favorite things - going for a run to your favorite ice cream shop, going to your grandparents house and just listening to old stories for a while, and ending at a brewery or pub with your favorite people. That or something similar to a “pick your own adventure day” where you wake up and have 3 doors or options for the days adventures and you just go.

Catherine Walker

Board member (current)

Interim Executive Director (2018)

How did you get involved with PHC?

I got involved from the very start of PHC, in 1999, when a group of Plymouth Church members formed a separate 501(c)(3) organization called “Plymouth House of Healing.” I had just chosen Plymouth Church as my faith community and wanted to volunteer to help beyond attending services. The church's Mental Health Ministry seemed like an interesting effort to learn about so I attended a meeting at which Craig Rennebohm described his vision for a “house of healing”. I thought to myself, “I know real estate and I can help find and secure the house while learning more about mental illness.” Nancy Smith and I began looking for houses and found and bought the house that is now House of Healing.

What inspires you to do this work?

My short answer is PHC's residents and staff inspire me! They do amazing things in the face of persistent obstacles (like insufficient housing and dollars). My longer answer is that like many who volunteer with PHC, I have family members who have, or have experienced, mental illness or a substance use disorder. I see the isolation, pain and stigma that they have lived with and I want to do something meaningful to respond. Through PHC, I am part of a community actively learning from, responding to, and journeying with adults who are living with a mental illness.

What would you consider to be the most meaningful part(s) of your PHC experience?

That's a tough question because there are so many. Right now, I would say being a persistent advocate for residents in the rent-subsidy “systems,” both federal and local. Being able to push for responsiveness from HUD and King County, even when the “wins” are small, is very rewarding to me. It lets me exercise my competitive-lawyer persona in a constructive way!

Do you have a favorite memory or memories from working with PHC?

I think my favorite memory was the summer barbecue at House of Healing - talking to residents and playing badminton in the backyard of Eng House! Lots of laughter and fun and connection, all of which are essential to health.

If you could create one holiday, what would it be and why?

My one holiday would be either a national or state-wide “Community Connection Day.” Every business and government office and retail store would close and everyone would have the chance to work on a community-based project - kind of like REI's "OptOutside" but with a community focus where each of us does something with and for another person. I think that would be spectacular!

drew dasse

Operations Manager

How did you get involved with PHC?

I first got into property management when I moved to Seattle 3 years ago. Since starting, rent prices continued to grow and I noticed that most people were forced to move out or take on numerous roommates to afford housing. Discouraged by this and other personal reasons, I decided to leave and search for another job. I reached out to a staffing agency to assist with the job search. After working a few contract jobs, they reached out to me with a listing at PHC. I learned more about the organization and immediately requested an interview. Getting involved with PHC has been very satisfying compared to for-profit property management. I am honored to be able to help in any way I can and am enjoying my role here at PHC.

What inspires you to do this work?

I have always been an activist in my own right with causes like Suicide Prevention and Human Rights. A report came out recently that the homeless population has significantly risen across the United States for the second year in a row; Seattle and New York with the highest increase on the list. Having seen first hand of what raising rents by more than 10% from year to year does to the problem at hand, being able to assist in a solution to the issue has been a welcoming experience.

When you're not working, what do you enjoy doing?

My passions are in art, photography and fashion design. I started drawing at a very young age and won a national competition at the age of 9. I went to school to get a degree in Graphic Design which led to me creating and running a publication for 3 years that focused on arts, entertainment, politics and culture. I would plan all these extravagant photoshoots with outrageous sets and costumes. The only thing I was incapable of doing myself was sewing. I enlisted the help of my drag queen best friend who taught me the basics and have taught myself the rest.

Do you have a significant wish or goal for the coming year?

My plans for 2019 is to help PHC grow, have an art gallery showing with 10 new pieces by the Fall, and a runway collection of 13 gowns and coats by the Winter.

If you could create one holiday, what would it be?

National Suicide Victims' Day of Remembrance. This topic hits close to home for me on many levels and having been through the devastation left behind, it's easy to forget all that can lead to making a tragic decision such as suicide. Families and friends are left with their grief and depression which they carry with them for the rest of their lives. Having a Holiday to celebrate and raise awareness would be a step towards ending the cycle and tragedy.

How did you get involved with PHC?

I spent four months in 2016 working with the staff of PHC as a Volunteer Impact Partner (“VIP”) Manager through 501 Commons.

What inspires you to do this work?

I have my own personal experience of living with and loving a relative who struggles to maintain her mental health. I know first-hand what a treacherous path she has had to travel, that the next crisis always seems to be just around the bend, and that her balance is often precarious. And that it would take relatively very little to send her into homelessness. That is one reason why I am so passionate about the work being done at Plymouth Healing Communities.

When you're not working, what do you enjoy doing?

Gardening, listening to music, playing the guitar and writing songs.

Do you have a significant wish or goal for the coming year?

I am entering the second year of a two year Buddhist chaplaincy training program where I am to learning how to deepen my understanding of service to individuals and communities. My overarching goal for 2019 is to identify and complete the project that will form the basis of my thesis paper.

If you could create one holiday, what would it be?

I don't have a short snappy name for it but it would be a holiday for parents and grown children where we all get a day off from work to hang out together without the competing priorities of other major holidays. For me it would be a “Mother/Daughter” day where we don't have to wrangle our schedules and commitments - it would just be a national day on the calendar!